The Dremel Stylus 7.2V

Not a hair dryer. It is a small tool for engraving and cleaning. Here is the background on the box:
Dremel is a division of Robert Bosch. Right from Stuttgart. However, the Dremel is made in Mexico, the docking station is made in China. It comes with 25 little accessories. They are made in Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, Taiwan or USA.That is what is listed on the box. I wonder what OR means. "Or" probably means it is made here when we are at war with any or all of these other countries.  Chances are nil. If we can't even make dinky little engraving tools like a Dremel in the US, we are in trouble.
I put a wire brush at the end of my Dremel and cleaned the bottom of my copper pots. It worked well but only in combination with a liquid copper cleaner.

Mass with Irene

Went to Mass on Saturday. The Rabbi made me sit up front. Suddenly I notice that the orchids were gone. They looked straggly from a distance. Never really liked them. Then I noticed the green plant on the right of the altar looked funny. You know the look: the dying look and that right on the altar. After Mass I asked for permission to check and it had a weird leaf curl but was OK. Perhaps someone had watered it during the day and it tried to come back to life. I grew up in the country and am a gardener. Plus I had a gardener as a mentor. He died a few years back and his dog died right after him and before the family put him in that Catholic Mausoleum, they added the dog's ashes to the man's ashes. Now this is supreme eco-friendly gardening in my book.

The what?

We are 10 loud women on Friday morning at the Diner. My support group.  The Aussie next to me wants to know if I want to go to the Vagina? WHERE? WHAT? "The vagina, the vagina" she shouts. I ask her to spell.  She tell me I should know because I sing it in church (????). She spells: R-E-G-I-N-A. That is a German Deli in the area. I tell her it is pronounced Rahgeena and the g is a hard g. We ask Ruthie who is German. Ruthie supports me. Case solved and settled.

Brown Hood died

One of the Brown Hoods died. He was a very sweet soul. Very gentle. I went to confession to him once and confessed that I had said something nasty to the pastor at the Seven Flags. His response was: "Perhaps he needed to hear that!" I will never forget it for the rest of my life. I made my whole year. I can still enjoy the moment when he told me.

The Mice

I went with the mice to McDonald's today. One of the women dominates the conversation but she is interesting and I don't mind. It will be a long time before I will be accepted. They know each other and are interested in each other and who am I? It's OK and I will have to stick it out. Of course, right now it feels like a lot of wasted time for me. I remember my beginning at the Church of the 12 Dwarfs. It was a very rough beginning. It took two years. There was Miss Hitchley and Miss Fritchley......and that was just the start - so this is easy in comparison.

Test

I took one of the nun's relatives to a medical facility for a test yesterday. This guy is OK but not 100%. You get my drift. He needed to prep himself for a colonoscopy. So eating light or nothing was in order. What did he do? He got hungry and ate thirty, yes thirty, jello containers. That was light for him.

On and Off

I lost power Saturday evening because of Irene and last night, Tuesday, it came back on. Went to Mass this morning and when I came back home the power was off again. I was totally bummed out. I cannot type on the virtual keyboard of my I-pad. I am a typist and need a regular keyboard. Now the power is back one and here I am typing and blogging.

Where to start?

The Rabbi's boss is taking his horse and is galloping off to Jerusalem and the Rabbi himself got hoof-and-mouth disease. Did the Rabbi kiss his boss on the way out? Did the Rabbi kiss the horse on the way out? Did the horse kiss......? As they say in our religion: it is a mystery.
I am not sure what to think of this horse business. Like in a Polo Club, you need deep pockets to enter the playing field. Yes, they make some exceptions but I am not talking about the exceptions here. Sure, the little guy can support the ponies but membership is restricted. You need a load of horse manure to get in and promise to contribute annually. Where does the money go? Mystery. How much money is collected? Mystery. Who are the members of the rank and file? (Much rank and a little file only for the fingers). Mystery.  Well, not quite. I know one and he is OK. I know another one - whom I am trying to forget.
Oh, yes, our Chief Rabbi has suddenly become our Administrator. So now we pray for our Administrator in the temple. I wonder if they are going to move God around and then we will pray to Our Administrator. Nothing would surprise me.
Anyway, playing musical chairs is not good. I noticed it in my previous temple. I wonder how this will play out.
When I was in Jerusalem at the Holy Sepulcher I was overwhelmed by the absence of God. That spot felt sinister.
This whole thing looks like some political move where an American is needed to put pressure on the other Administrators in Jerusalem.
For now let's just call it a horse's PAC.

Morning Prayer

I went to morning prayer. The Short Deacon officiated. I got there and it was just him and me. With no minute to spare, a woman walked in and a man. They were not together - just happen to walk in together. Woman was obviously looking for a Mass. Was disappointed that there was not one but stayed. Short Deacon gave a nice homily. In the middle of morning prayer, another woman walks in, with pics in front of her, goes to tabernacle, takes out hosts and kneels down in front of tabernacle and does her own prayers. After a minute or so she gets ups and leaves. Hello?
After morning prayer, first woman bewails the fact loudly that "this was not like Mass." Wants to know from Short Deacon about his vestments. I want to kick her in the shins. She just received the Messiah and she can't see the trees in the forest and can only concentrate about the externals which she does not like but which, by the way, are beautiful. Rather than be grateful that she was able to participate in morning prayer AND receive the Messiah, she goes away grumbling. The Liturgy of the Hours are lovely liturgical events in our daily lives. Woman also does not belong to the seniors. So seniors find morning prayer with Messiah obviously not worthwhile to attend. More education is necessary.

The Son in Kazakhistan

The son in Kasakhistan is not leaving his job. He works for the World Bank. I was worried and prayed for him a lot. I think he works too hard.

Forgiving and other stuff

The Rabbi asked me again if I had forgiven him. That he rejected the coffee cup warmer initially did not bother me. He just did it so publicly - that was the problem. If I give I want to give in obscurity. But he hung up on Chucky and so EVERYTHING is forgiven.
The Tantum Ergo is a puzzle for me. Music is not one of my gifts and I don't know one version from another. There are many on YouTube and there are MP3 versions that can be bought on Amazon for 99 cents. I sent him one but is this an English version? Some other version?
The lovely temple maidens are asking me to read quite regularly. I panic about the v's and w's and I wonder when the Rabbi is going to get a complaint. "Can't we have some American version?"

A good Wednesday

Went this morning to one of the mice's home. Lovely. We sat outside and it was all chit chat about where we were during yesterday's earthquake. When we broke up I went grocery shopping on the way home. Now I am waiting for "Irene." Me and a few million other people. Called my brother this morning and his first words out of his mouth were: "Are you alive?" I had to be - for me to call! I am more than alive. Since July I have been happy. Going to Mass every morning again is so great and not dealing with the bleached cookie monster is a great relief.

Alls sins are forgiven

The Rabbi really does not have any sins. But he hung up on Chucky yesterday and I was ready to shout Hallelujah today right during temple services. I don't like Chucky. So all of the Rabbi's sins are forgiven: past, present and all future sins.

The Rabbi

The Rabbi got his training from some weird orthodox jeshiva. So he needs to do certain things his way like putting on his left sock and putting on his left shoe and then putting on the right sock and then putting on his right shoe. Well, we all do things they way we were brought up.

5.8

It was a 5.8 earthquake. I was in the house. A really weird feeling. Just a little picture fell off the wall. I was soooo lucky with all my stuff all over the place.

Earthquake

We just had an earthquake here. Quite some rumbling. The whole house shook. I wonder if there is any damage on the roads.

My son

I have a lovely son in Kazakhistan. Unfortunately it is too far away to have a heart to heart talk.

Chair

I was bumped from my chair today. The woman who wanted it said it had been hers for four year. Lots of coughing and burping today. At least everything came out of the mouth.

My Saints

I have four favorites.
Eusebius - I am not sure he is a saint. He is one of the church fathers.
St. John Eudes
St. Julian Eymard
St. Dominique
Funny all the "e's" but these are my top saints

The moon at 9:30

You'd think it would be in the evening. No, this morning I left the temple and there was a wonderful half moon in the sky. Not sure I ever saw anything like that so late in the day. It made up for my ending up at the Pacific again BEFORE temple service. I hate that.

Bible Class

Today I signed up for the bible class at the temple. I have a feeling that it is more a spiritual-growth-twelve-steps-to-heaven kind of class. Nothing wrong with it. If so, there would be room for me to teach a biblical bible class in the future. What annoyed me that they wanted my age. It was a mandatory field! I am getting vain. My birthday they can have but why do they need my age? Of course I gave them the wrong one. I took ten years off. Yep. I was so annoyed and soooo vain. I can just see the Rabbi making a crack remark now.
"Oh, no, Rabbi Seligman....you MUST be mistaken. I am....I am....I am..... thirty-nine." What the heck...taking off a few MORE years is even better.
Of course I did not want to deceive anyone. The mouse just slipped.
Now I am wondering if this is a sin or not.
I should have taking forty years off. Then it would certainly not be a sin.

Homeless

I went to Canada today and gave out doughnuts and soaps primarily. What a difference it makes to deal with the homeless face to face.
Wish list
Soap
Socks
Underwear
T-Shirts in summer
Sweats in winter
Heavy hoodies in winter
Gloves
Hats
Further luxuries
Toothpaste
Tooth brushes
Jeans
There is no difference for woman. They wear the same things as the men.

Heaven on Earth

On Friday I left the pooches to defend the house - all day. Yesterday I made up with them.  We pretended to have a beach party on the bed. That is a rare treat for them. The princess needs to come close to my face, wants to be petted and then trots off to a far corner of the bed and goes to sleep. The prince rolls around the bed like a dervish - he needs to get some of my smell into his fur - and then goes under the blanket, touches skin around my legs where he settles in. He always has to touch skin somewhere. The madam is just happy to jump on the lounge chair next to the bed and goes to sleep immediately. So while we are all snuggled in the phone rang. No way would I ever answer the phone in this blissful state. It was the nun. I called her back later.

Marathon Day

I started my day at the Diner at seven a.m. and not stop until midnight.....It was a marathon day.
Before temple service the California woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if she had time to go to the bathroom. I wanted to ask: How long to you intend to pee? I tried not to laugh out loud and nodded my head and she left. She got back in time. An hour into adoration she approached me again and this time told me she was going to the bathroom - she would be right back. She did come back but "right" has a different definition in my vocabulary.
Went up to Canada to visit with an old friend who promptly put me on the liturgical committee for one of the Jewish holidays coming up in fall. She is in charge. I don't think they every had a Catholic help building a Sukkot in their reform temple. I was just ready to relax back at home when the nun called. She had a rare opportunity to go out. Took her for an overdue birthday dinner - again crabs - and then we saw The Help. Fr. Valhalla would be proud of me. I saw the movie twice now and since the lights went out because of a storm outside and we had a 10 minute unintended intermission they started the movie almost at the beginning again. So I saw sections THREE times. Fr. Valhalla you always told me that you liked to see a movie three times in you old age. I always thought that that would never happen to me. It's coming faster than I thought.

Good bye

I said good by to my spiritual director today. He belongs to the black and white hoods. I brought him out today and showed him Los Angeles by the water. He had never seen it. We ate lunch downtown. Unfortunately we had tourist crab cakes. They were not any good. There is a restaurant in a different part of town and it has excellent crab cakes. Unfortunately it is in a strip mall and he wanted to see Los Angeles by the water. The atmosphere was delightful and we watched the national guard of the future march around. I have a military I.D. because mother served and we could go on base. Went to the Catholic Church downtown which he had never seen. We talked about a lot of things but at one one he said that if he was not Catholic he would be Jewish. I could only say Amen to that. Neither one of us wanted to be a Protestant. He also wanted to know how I ended up in the charismatic movement. Now that had a funny history with the pastor over the Seven Flags discerning evil spirits all the time and I got curious what gave people the ability to discern evil spirits. At the Seven Flags church, money had a lot to do with with. Also who liked you. When the inner circle liked you, one had suddenly all sorts of spritual gifts. I think I was sent there to discern bad leadership from good. It is a very charismatic gift.

What happened at the temple?

I heard the Rabbi say that there was trouble at the temple this morning. Impure thoughts by the workmen? At least the world did not come to the end. That would have been THE END. OK - take the gallon of holy water and sprinkle it around the construction site. I am serious.

Mini speakers for my I-pad

I got some mini speakers for my I-pad yesterday. Now I have a boom box, or a boom I-pad. Great music.
I covered someone for adoration today. Took a book. Took the I-pad with the mini speaker and played liturgial music out of my tote bag. Read the book. A great hour. This is something one can only do when all alone and I was.

Day dreaming

I really have to be focused when I am driving to the temple. I end up on the Pacific Shore. I make a left hand turn too early and go back home. I make the proper left hand turn and forget that there is immediately another left hand turn and I find myself in the right lane zipping by the entrance of the temple. I get there out of breath. I would hate to get there late. I need to send my guardian angel to some refresher course.

Readings

I read this morning and I love to do it but reading cold is difficult. When I get a lot of "f-s, v-s, w-s" I am close to panic. What did they wine say to the vine? Very fine?

Flyer

When I went out with Miss Hitchley the other day she told me that there was a Miss Stencil who was already on her pie list. The Miss Stencils of the world do good but are monolithic in their approach to Right to Life. Ninety percent of the efforts go towards the unborn and ten percent to the "until natural death." Natural death comes much too soon because of neglect, hunger and stife and I don't like this uneven approach to Right to Life issues. We pray for the whole (from conception to natural death) but the Right of Lifers seem to get stuck for the nine months after the conception part and if they are worried about natural death then only within the nine months. I made a flyer for Miss Hitchley to pass on to Miss Stencil. The emphasis was on the "natural death" part. Let's give a cheer to the silent majority in Right to Life issues.

The bulletin board

I asked the seniors if there was a bulletin board specifically for seniors. They said there was not. There is a ton of wall space at the temple. This might be an idea down the line as many seniors don't have e-mail. Keep them informed what is going on at the Senior Center, movies, Department of the Aging, medicare and medicaid changes and post the Bunco games wait list. Man - they would go for that!

The Wednesday morning mice

The mice started off on a nice discussion about breast cancer and breast implants and it started right after temple service and continued at the mouse social club. Mother who in real life was a medicine man thought breast implants were a folly as these things can and do wander around in one's body and not necessarily stay in place. Of course I heard a few of those stories this morning. The plastic surgeons appeal to the women's vanity. Years ago, mother counselled an office secretary at the Church over the Seven Flags not to have reconstructive surgery but she did it anyway and always had problems. She wanted to look in the mirror and still look appealing. Mind you she was in her seventies, her husband had died and nobody at the Church over the Seven Flags would have asked her to show up in her swim suit.

Finally the mice discussed Bunco. I thought: please don't make them invite me - but they told me that there is a waiting list to join. Thank you Lord. I can't see myself in a weekly Bunco game.

Espresso WHAT?

I went to a coffee shop this morning. Tried to read the blackboard and saw Espresso Shit. Wow that woke me up. I looked again and it said Espresso Shot. The movie "The Help" is still going around in my mind.

The Help

I saw the movie "The Help" today. How much I felt like the help working for the Catholic Church. Once a group of brown hoods said in front of me before the current pope was elected: "Anybody but a German Pope."
I am still dealing with a vindictive bishop as I am writing this. Oh, how I would love to see him eat two slices of pie. I have dealt with downright mean spirited pastors, pastors who thought because I don't get any pay I should not get a Christmas present either, pastors who are two-faced, pastors who took the staff out but I was not included because, again, only the paying staff counted, a pastor who never acknowledged me and I was invisible to him. A pastor who after seven years of work in the parish could not call, write or even send a messenger to thank me for seven years of dedicated service. You get used to the insults and you are not surprised when people leave. Yeah, and the bishop had the nerve to tell me once that giving to the diocese is for the Glory of God. The diocese could do with a little less glory and should be more interested in God.

Most famous quote of the month

"I'm from California and I did not understand a word you said."

That is what you call Californeese patchwork hearing.

If I am ever arrested by the police for speeding I will use this quote. I am sure I will do well.

The Defense

The rabbi is collecting money for new missiles. I think we are getting some super cannons from China. I did not know we were that threatened from the unbelievers but I would be the last to know.

How many followers does this blog have?

Statistically speaking 1 1/2. It was never meant to have a following. It was meant as sort of a personal diary and letting off steam. When I am angry I can get over it by writing. Once I mentioned at an office lunch that I had a blog and the boss said: "YOU have a BLOG?" He wanted to read it and for some reason I gave him the blog address and the rest is history. I never gave it out to any other boss and only a couple of other people have the address and I don't think they follow the blog religiously. I entertain myself mostly ---- and the Rabbi. The Rabbi has a sense of humor and some understanding when I want to kill Chucky. One of my crazy friends calls Chucky in her blog the "walking, talking bathrobe." Shows you what an infantile mind I have because every time I think about this description I can laugh for a whole minute. Ha, ha, ha, ha. The minute is up.

Feast of St. Stephen of Hungary

His wife was the Blessed Gisela. Her name is fixed into the wall in the Vatican in the Hungarian chapel. I saw it once.  The Hapsburg have a tradition that their bodies are buried in Vienna but their hearts in Budapest, Hungary. I wonder where Gisela's heart is? Or her body? It does not matter, the worms probably got it all by now. They had over 1,000 years to do it.

Singing

I do not have a singing voice. My voice is like two cats on a roof doing a cat fight. Sometimes I sound like one of those Mongolian throat singers. But I do them injustice. Mongolian throat singing is fiendishly difficult. When someone is off key I follow them. So today I was a follower.

Visitors

I was supposed to have overnight guests. People whom I had never met and did not  knew. Then the Rabbi announced a special procession around the temple for today and I did not want to miss it. Prayers answered. The supposed overnight guests decided to get a hotel room. Hallelujah! I love guests otherwise.

Whose fault is is if the world is coming to an end?

It might surprised you but it might just be the Rabbi's fault. I am reading this great book: Sacred Treasure - the Cairo Genizah by Rabbi Mark Glickman. He claims that "the only person who ever knew how to pronounce God's name was the High Priest. It was the word he uttered during his annual Yom Kippur visit to the Holy of Holies as he atoned on behalf of himself, his family, and all Jews everywhere.
If an impure thought entered his mind as he uttered God's name, the world would come to and end. One word."
There you have it. OK Rabbi Seligman, no impure thoughts on Yom Kippur or we are doomed.

Which Bike?

I want to get a bike.  What kind of bike? A RoundTail bike. It is just weird enough that I would enjoy it. I just don't know if one can buy one yet. It is also American made. The inventor is in California. The price might not match my pocket book. I have not seen a "for sale" sign but I will keep on checking.

The Bible as a Person???

Yes, I like that image. The Bible as a person to love deeply. One wants to spend time with that person, get to know them, honor them, please them, listen to them. It is a very different relationship than with a book. This relationship is what I want to get across to the adults......This is also different than the Bible as spirituality. Both are needed but the latter is a room and the former is a mansion.

Temple Maiden

There must have been a new temple maiden today. She hesitantly ran around the altar.  One step forward, two steps back. Lit the candles on the ambo but not the altar.  Later went into God's beer barrel home, took him out and put him back in again. Funny was the collection of the the temple tax today. The basket went zig-zag in my section. I am sure I will find out when the new liturgy starts. Perhaps this was a dry run of things to come.

The Year 2012

The welcome waggon.
Here at the Temple by the Quelle we have our computers in place, our software working, a fully functional keyboard and a new ministry: the welcome waggon. As soon as you sign up to become a member, our Rabbi will send you a letter welcoming you to the TBTQ. Then Miss Fritzly will contact you and arrange a mutual satisfying date and place to ask you what we at TBTQ can do for you. If you have filled out your ministry preferences she will introduce you to the various ministry leaders and make you feel welcome. What each ministry does will be explained to you. You have special needs? We will try to help you. You will meet the Rabbi if you have not met him. Yes, you will feel you have landed in the heavenly temple. Cup cakes, coffee and a tour of the temple included.

The new me the - INFJ

I thought I redo the Jung Typology test. Last time I took it I came out an INTJ - that was in January. A lot of things have changed since and I am happier. So here is the new me - The INFJ

Counselors have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find great personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding them to realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries. Counselors are both kind and positive in their handling of others; they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in helping people with their personal problems. Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.

Counselors are scarce, little more than three percent of the population, and can be hard to get to know, since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions except with their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated inner life. Friends or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.

Counselors tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every effort to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers, Counselors are concerned with people's feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the feelings within the organization.

Blessed with vivid imaginations, Counselors are often seen as the most poetical of all the types, and in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for language-both written and spoken-is usually directed toward communicating with people in a personalized way. Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions - good or evil - even before that person is aware of them. Counselors themselves can seldom tell how they came to read others' feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others could very well be the basis of the Counselor's remarkable ability to experience a whole array of psychic phenomena.

Right to Life versus Social Justice

I have a friend who is very active in Right to Life issues. I e-mailed her and asked what was done for the dying in Africa at the moment. To my surprise the answer came back that that was a Social Justice issue. Heaven help us all. So the unborn have a right to life but once you are born you get handed over to social justice and you are on your own. She quoted me a talk from Mother Teresa. With all respect to Mother Teresa, the message was from 1994 and outdated. THEN everyone wanted to go to India and help the dying in India and Mother Teresa pleaded for the folks to stay here and do something about abortion. We have come full circle. Now everything is done on the anti-abortion side and every other killing or dying becomes a social justice issue or non-issue. Right to Life to me means right to life for everybody: unborn, children, adults. To make a separation at what stage in life one has a right to life is not even Christian in my opinion.

Pakistan Help Center

Me: Hello, I joined the temple and I need some information.
Help Center: I am sorry but we cannot help you right now because our computers are in China and the software is being translated in India into Hindi and we have not entered your name yet into our system because that would crash the computers and an elephant stepped on the Rabbi's keyboard and.......
Me: So why is there a Help Center?
Help Center: We are helping you by telling you that we are not operational and you have to wait until the computers come from China and the Hindus finished with the Hindi translation and Logitech sent us a replacement elephant for the Rabbi.
Me: Why would you want a replacement elephant for the Rabbi?
Help Center: So he can step on the new key board and we can get the leg and glue it on the old key board.
Me: Makes perfect sense to me. Tell me. How much do they pay you?
Help Center: Not much. The temple does not pay much.
Me: I would suggest to you that when you get the elephant you teach him a few tricks to supplement your income.
Help Center: Thank you. Can we call you if we have trouble translating your name into Hindi?
Me: Always, I am open 24 hours. I am also a good elephant. I step on things for free.

Adoration

My favorite time of the week. First of all there is Mass and then we have adoration. What I find so interesting the the Rabbi can call God down on the altar. Imagine that power! And what really, really gets to me is that God NEVER refuses. He comes. Now if I were God, I would look down on the Rabbi and say: My heavenly mattress is too comfortable this morning and I ain't coming down.
God is humble and obeys the Rabbi every time and comes. It is a spectacle/miracle that leaves me bug eyed watching the Rabbi's hands. Now that is during Mass. Then comes Adoration. Adoration is wonderful. Just to sit there in this peaceful environment and thinking: There HE is! That is all: There HE is. I also like adoration at the temple because there are no bad memories associated with this temple. I still substitute at another temple and it took great determination not to run away the first few times I went. They have a new oratory with a lock at the front door and a regulation book that is an inch thick. The pastor with the yellow fangs built it and it has his name and is called " Father .... Spiritual Life Center." I consider it the Spiritual Death Center. Once the new oratory was opened they stopped using the chapel. The chapel was lovely and without locks and regulations books. I loved to go there because mother loved it, too. Well, in the new chapel at my new temple, adoration is a million times better for me. It is the emotions, too. Absolutely no yellow fangs visible.

How many titles are enough?

The Duchess of Alba is believed to have the most titles in the world. She is a Duchess seven times over. Have a look. Yes, all the other titles and honors are hers as well.....I wonder if she can recite them all without looking in her notebook.

Titles

[edit]Dukedoms

• 18th Duchess of Alba, Grandee of Spain
• 17th Duchess of Híjar, Grandee of Spain
• 11th Duchess of Montoro, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her daughter Doña Eugenia
• 11th Duchess of Berwick, Grandee of Spain
• 11th Duchess of Liria and Jérica, Grandee of Spain
• 12th Countess-Duchess of Olivares, Grandee of Spain
• 3rd Duchess of Arjona, Grandee of Spain

[edit]Marquesates

• 17th Marquesa of the Carpio, Grandee of Spain
• 10th Marquesa of San Vicente del Barco, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Fernando
• 23rd Marquesa of Coria
• 20th Marquesa of Moya
• 18th Marquesa of Barcarrota
• 19th Marquesa of Sarria
• 18th Marquesa of Villanueva del Fresno
• 17th Marquesa of Villanueva del Río
• 20th Marquesa of la Mota
• 16th Marquesa of Almenara
• 17th Marquesa of Orani
• 14th Marquesa of Eliche
• 12th Marquesa of Osera
• 12th Marquesa of Tarazona
• 14th Marquesa of San Leonardo
• 16th Marquesa of la Albaga
• 15th Marquesa of Valdunquillo
• 16th Marquesa of Mirallo
• 10th Marquesa of Castañeda

[edit]Countships

• 20th Countess of Lerín, Grandee of Spain, Constabless of Navarre
• 22nd Countess of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
• 20th Countess of Osorno, Grandee of Spain
• 22nd Countess of Siruela, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Jacobo
• 18th Countess of Palma del Río, Grandee of Spain
• 19th Countess of Aranda, Grandee of Spain
• 16th Countess of Monterrey, Grandee of Spain
• 12th Countess of Salvatierra, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Cayetano
• 25th Countess of San Esteban de Gormaz
• 24th Countess of Ribadeo
• 21st Countess of Miranda del Castañar
• 20th Countess of Villalba
• 18th Countess of Gelves
• 11th Countess of Tinmouth
• 19th Countess of Andrade
• 16th Countess of Fuentes de Valdepero
• 17th Countess of Galve
• 16th Countess of Casarrubios del Monte
• 16th Countess of Guimerá
• 11th Countess of Fuentidueña
• 14th Countess of Ayala
• 12th Countess of Santa Cruz de la Sierra

[edit]Viscountcies

• 12th Viscountess of la Calzada

[edit]Baronies

• 11th Baroness of Bosworth

[edit]Manorials

• 29th Dame of Moguer

[edit]Styles

• 28 March 1926 – 11 January 1935: The Most Excellent Doña Mª del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva
• 11 January 1935 – 28 January 1947: The Most Excellent The Marquise of San Vicente del Barco
• 28 January 1947 – 18 February 1955: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Montoro
• 18 February 1955 – present: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Alba de Tormes

[edit]Honours

• Honorary President of the Spanish Red Cross
• Order of Isabella the Catholic
• Constable of Aragon
• Marshal of Castilla
• Dame of the Royal Arsenal Cavalry of Seville
• Noble Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa
• Member of the Hispanic Society of America, New York
• Honorary President of the Opera Philharmonic
• Member of Merit of the Royal Hispanic-American Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters of Cadiz
• Honorary Mayor of Liria (Madrid)

E-mailing

I e-mailed several committee members today at the temple. We shall see. I can't tell if it works like at the Seven Flags church and one has to be agressive to be included in anything above socializing and taking the trash out or if it works like at  All Holy Seals and they come to you rather quickly. I really feel stupid not knowing anything. I felt that way at All Holy Seals in the beginning and it took a while to find my place. Especially the office staff was very cliquish at the time in the beginning. So far the Rabbi has been very sweet and has tried to get me involved in a low key ministry and we both got very nicely rejected. I will continue to participate and it will even be more low key now. Perhaps I should teach a course on investments. That - they might not reject and I have done that, too, in the past.  Tonight I am taking Miss Hitchley out. I will ask her some questions.

Morning Prayer

There were seven of us. More than for regular temple services at the previous temple. I turned on my I-pad and at the exact moment the chimes started to ring. So I jumped five feet high. I really did not need my I-pad because they have prayer booklets. I am the original "know nothing."
We prayed morning prayer outside which was lovely. A fly attacked me and I have welts all over my legs. Must have been attracted by rotting flesh. I don't know. Nobody else was waiving their hands and arms around.
Inquired about the women's bible class. Yes, it exists, it is highly successful but the woman who runs it has some sort of "application" form. Seems that you have to search them out. They won't come to you. I guess that is success.
I will look them up on the web.

Christmas cheer

The pastor at a previous parish was a cad. Not nasty, just a cad. However, many of the mice at my current parish seem to know him and sang his praises today. One said that he once purchased a Christmas tree at a fire department lot and the tree was so huge that the fire department delivered it on a fire truck. Then inside the house he had to cut the tree down but he cut the top off instead the bottom! Goes with his coloring his hair and beard blond. The blond pastor.....Hmmmmm.

Bible Classes an other stuff

I am very interested in evaluating what is at the temple. Supposedly there are many bible classes at the temple. I just have not found anyone yet who goes to any of them. There cannot be enough bible classes.
Apparently the Thursday morning class is for women only.
So far I have not heard from any of the powers on the Rabbi's staff.  However, there are renovations going on and it is still summer.  I don't want the Rabbi to encourage anyone to contact me. I want to see how long it takes for any of these committees that I x-ed off on my application to find a new parishioner. If it takes until November that would not be a good sign. We shall see.
The mice are welcoming but want me on their terms only which is fine for now. I think they understood that I wanted them to join a convent and so I got a nice rejection today. It was rather amusing.
Chucky is coming to town. On one hand I want to flee on the other hand I want to show up and see him have a heart attack. If there are weeds he is crabgrass.

The Good News for the Mice

The Rabbi picked up the automated temple service box today. From now on a Deacon will switch on thepower and the mice will have a Deacon fiddling with the volume control and get fed at MacDonalds afterwards. "A Deacon can do it!" Yeah right.

The Church over the Seven Flags

The Holy Spirit prevented me from going over there and He had something better in mind. Now that the priest with the yellow fangs is gone from there the new one is introducing new ministries right and left. However, they are all on the lowest common demonimator. It would have driving me nuts. They just had a flyer that basically said: Come be a facilitator - you need not know anything. The Holy Spirit will show you. Yeah. I think that is an abuse of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit likes prepared people.

Edith Stein

Edith Stein was born in Breslau. That was in Germany and specifically Silesia. It belongs to Poland now. I was born not too far from there myself. She was a student of Husserl and phenomenology. She was a lecturer for women's groups and, after becoming a Catholic, worked at a Catholic school as a teacher and finally entered a Carmelite convent. After the Nazis came to power she transferred to a Carmelite convent in the Netherlands. Once the Nazis conquered the Netherlands, she tried desperately to move on the Switzerland - to no avail. The Bishops in the Netherlands had an anti-Nazi homily read at all Sunday Masses and the Nazis took their revenge on the church and picked up all the religious who were born Jewish. Both Edith and her sister were picked up from the convent in the Netherlands. Her sister had joined her in the Netherlands and worked as a porter at the convent.

Clean up

I live with clutter. So today I try to clean up to make a good impression tomorrow. My worst clutter is all the books. I am rearranging them at the present time and that creates more temporary clutter. Then the nun told me to check out a game called bookworm. It drives me nuts because it is a really silly game in many ways but it draws me in and keeps the clutter cluttered. I will have to do something about it. No more bookworm for - a few hours?????

Vegetables

I had to throw tons and tons of cucumbers into the bushes this morning. They still grow but are not edible any longer. The tomatoes are edible but don't grow any longer. Next year I will plant more tomatoes. I have the space. I only planted three plants this year and then got another freebee from a friend. The acorn squash is doing great but not many people know how delicious it is or how easy it is to prepare it for a great lunch.

New Temple Service

We will have a new Temple service on Fridays. Not the Rabbi, but someone else will enter the Holy of Holies. I will be there and watch if this person will come out alive. This particular temple is so new to me that I had no idea that there was a discussion about a change in temple service. One woman thought she had to bring her own goat on Fridays from now on. It's a SHEEP, not a goat, but anyway, no animals have to be driven to the temple on Fridays. The sheep will be preslaughtered on Thursday and kept on ice.

The black and white hoods

I am a temporary laid black and white hood now. I professed today on the eve of the Feast of St. Dominic. I am sooooo happy. St. Dominic preached and set the world on fire. I hope I receive some of his spirit.

Temple Service

We start with a 21 gun salute and the temple shakes and is filled with smoke. Then the rabbi proceeds to the altar. He does not have to take a bath - at least not publicly. We also do not tie a string around his toe. If he were to drop dead at the altar we would all see it because there is no curtain as he goes up the altar. We have a meal and an unbloodied sacrifice. The rabbi commands God to come down on the altar and it is an unbelievable sight. At the end the rabbi takes God to the tabernacle and places Him there. All the tabernacles of the world are all rectangular - OK - at least boxy - but not ours. Our artisans did not read the bible and we have an African motive or a Bavarian motive, depending how you interpret art. The tabernacle is held up by two huge elephant tusks. That goes well with the African interpretation but does not much if you like the Bavarian view of this tabernacle. The rabbi reads from his scroll and addresses us making a connection to our daily lives. We sing songs and praise the Lord and then we go home.

Temporary Profession

Will occur with the black and white hoods this afternoon. I should be at the third stage actually. There are three stages but I have been slow and have been held back. The administrative part has never worked that well in this group. Our beloved prior is leaving and so they went through the files and did some housekeeping. Today is Fr. Valhalla's 90th birthday. What a coincidence. He is looking down from heaven. I am sure of that.

Work

Talked to one of the seniors at the temple the other day. I don't recall exactly what I said to her but her response was: "I am sure they can always use you in the office stuffing envelopes." I had to bite my lip. I will hopefully do that when I am ninety. Then again if the Rabbi called and asked me to do that, I would do it but it is not quite on my bucket list. A congretation is like a family. You do the things you want to do and you do the things that keep the family together. That does not include showing up when Chucky visits. I will stay away.

Visiting

I went over to the nun's house and took a potted flower along for her mom. The nun felt pretty good tonight because both father and mother are doing better and she was laughing today. So tonight I picked her up and we went to the Diner for a bagel and some coffee. She wanted to walk. Because of the rain we went to the mall - to walk. Well, nun wanted to go look around inside the first store we saw and that was the end of the walk. Got a toy skunk for the dogs. Prince loved it and carried away to his secret hiding place.

Feast of the Transfiguration

Today was the Feast of the Transfiguration. I remember how I stood on Mt. Tabor. A lovely sight and a lovely experience. I did not like Jerusalem or Bethlehem. Too much infighting and walls and checkpoints. Creepy. Mt. Tabor was different. An air of peace.

Somalia

I am greatly moved by the pictures I see. Yet, every day I plan to make a donation and have not gotten around to it. Sometimes one becomes apathetic in view of all the suffering in the world.

End of cucumbers

There are still lots of them but they taste all wooden. Even the little ones. The sign of a tired worn out plant. Tomatoes are still good and so is the acorn squash. I have not checked my peppers lately. I planted a lot of hot ones. What to do now? What do I do with a life time supply of hot peppers? I could supply all of South America with hot peppers.

Bibles

I am ordering 20 bibles for the whooppies, whosees, wowies and all WWII veterans. They cost barely $100 which I can afford and will be the NABRE which just came out in March. Hopefully they will dutifully open them.

One of the Youth Ministers

I ran into one of the youth ministers today. Erika was her name. We chatted and I told her that I just learned a great catechetical teaching technique at Steubenville for seven year olds and I would enjoy doing a retreat for seven year olds if they could use me. She thought I should meet Stephonia, whoever she is. I don't know anyone over there except the Rabbi and Miss Hitchley. I guess in September I will make my rounds. I need to get all their input for my DRE project anyway. Erika was sort of surprised that I went to school to become a DRE.

The wedded couple

The Rabbi blessed a wedding today. Adam and Eve were 150 years old and had been married for 100 years. They were actually very sprite for their age but the flowers at the altar looked tired. That reminded me that in the previous parish - not the last one - the one before that - I had chapel duty for odds and ends which included flowers. A couple could hand over $50 to $100 and I would make several nice arrangements which they could take home after the blessing or leave at the altar. If they wanted white roses, they got white roses, if the wanted red carnations, they got red carnations. Once a couple ask me to fill the altar with daisies because those were the flowers they had at their wedding.

Adoration

I was more than happy to stay for adoration today until 11. I had brought a great holy book. Another woman mumbled her prayers. Just loud enough so I could not read. I coughed, I made noises with my book. Nothing helped. I fled at 10:30. Next time I will ask her kindly to recite her prayers quietly. I am always amazed what people do. Did she really think I would enjoy her mumbling?

What is your Sanctuary?

A castle has guards, our homes should have a holy water vessel, our souls should be filled with with the Holy Spirit. Individually, we must cherish Catholic values and bring them to the comunity not because we are compelled to do so but our of love. When have you last enriched your sanctuary and delved into a Sacred text? We need to continually renew the beauty of tradition by using rituals, art, music and language.

Heloise

I met Heloise this morning at a local coffee shop called Pronto. Pronto is definitely better than Starbucks or Carribou in my opinion. The coffee has a smooth flavor. Heloise used to blog a lot about her grandchildren. She, like I, had a blogging short this past year. Now we are back into it.
We chatted this morning and before you knew it, two hours had passed. We e-mail each other mostly and set each other off. Crazy blogs and e-mails are the result. It is a good thing not to drink coffee while being on the computer reading her stuff. I would spill it every time laughing. Her brain is also hardwired on juvenile, just like mine. We are very serious folks in the mall and the grocery store. At home we disappear into the closet of our funny personalities and come up with the nuttiest stories that one can imagine. We certainly are creative writers. Not good writers just very, very, very (x3) creative!

Normal Liver

I have a "normal" liver again. Wished I had a "normal" brain but one cannot ask for everything in this world. Q fever is definitely gone. Now I should exercise some more. I should walk the doggies instead of just letting them out the back door. "Easy does it, Lara. Don't overdue it". Aha, the brain is kicking in.

Job opportunity

The Archdiocese of Washington is looking for a three year old kindergarden teacher with a B.S. degree. How this is supposed to come together only the Archbishop could possibly know. I think Jesus would say: "Only the Father knows." And I always thought English was easy.

My mind

It occurred to me today that my mind is hardwired on "juvenile."

Knitting

Someone wrote to Miss Etiquette if knitting was permitted during church services. The person writing in was annoyed. Miss Etiquette thought as long as the knitters don't make any noise there was no harm in it. I can just see the Rabbi looking out and seeing someone knitting in the temple and having a heart attack. Well, what will be next? Changing socks? Changing underwear? Sure - as long as you don't make any noise!

My Garden

I am not sure I can call it that any more. I was away and came home to a bed of weeds. I have to find the tomatoes with a metal detector. The cucumbers are at the end of their tastefulness and equally hidden. I have to pick them really, really small as the bigger ones now taste wooden. They get thrown into the hedge as fertilizer. The acorn squash is doing great and acorn squash makes a great vegetarian lunch.

The Wowies and the world

The Wowies behaved predictably cautious today. I think they want to give me the ONE chance. I have no problem. More and more I know that the Lord directs my path and I just follow. The Wowies also don't know me and that will take time as well.  Being at the Mac factory is not all that great because of the noise but time will tell how to handle that. The Rabbi gave me a nice introduction and is spoiling me otherwise. I have not been treated so nicely for a year. Miss Hitchley in his office also hated her last job and told me one loses confidence in oneself when one is treated shabbily. Amen.

There is supposed to be a Thursday morning bible class which I also want to attend just to see if it is any good.

I told Miss Carola this morning that I would like to be a reader at the daily Masses.  She assigns people as they come into the chapel. Sounds good to me.
The Rabbi does not have a glass ceiling on the ministries. No grace and favor jobs. No hand-picked selected from from the millionaire pool. What a refreshing environment.

Planking

Somehow I missed this fad. You lie down - like a plank - and have someone take your picture. In my days one could be a potted plant but never a plank. You can plank yourself or plank with others. I think I don't quite get it. Who would want to see such a picture on the internet when you are all planked out? I guess I will be all planked out when I am pushing up daisies. The ultimate plank and nicely stiff, too.

The Coach bag

The Coach company announced that its quarterly net income rose by 4 percent. The New York luxury handbag maker shows that the luxury sector continues to recover. How much could food could a bag buy for Somalian refugees in the Dadaab camp? Do I sound like Judas? I don't know. I hate to see pictures about hungry children. Been there. I once ate cat. The grown-ups told me it was rabbit. I was three when I asked my mother if those rabbits climbed trees. Now I am Americanized and still am overcome by the overabundance of food. You want to eat? There is food everywhere. What a blessed country.

Ten to Six

The nun hired a new painter for the business. She told him to show up at ten to six. He showed up at ten. She wondered what had happened to him and told him that he was to show up at ten to six. He told here he understood her. He was here now at ten and would be here until six. Ten to six Maryland English is not the same as ten to six Connecticut English.

The Nun etc.

The nun has three nephews who are all on drugs at the presents. Their favorite drug of choice is oxycodeine. One nephew is 27, one is 20 and one is 18! The two oldest ones have been in rehabs and have relapsed, the youngest one has not been in rehab yet perhaps because he has found an enabler and never hit rock bottom like the others so far. It is a tragedy. The nun herself is now taking care of two elderly parents who are living with her. I am trying to help but so far we have not come up with anything that would "work." I can't take the parents to the doctor, because the nun wants to be there - understandably. I can't just visit the parents and let the nun go out because the parents would feel abandoned. So I can visit with parents and nun and deflect a little of her stress. Getting old and helping others is supposed to be our Hour of Glory. Sometimes you want to drink yourself out of this glory if you could. Dear Jesus: When you said:  "My yoke is easy" I think at times of a bait and switch. I have too many friends who are stressed out and some are close to being homeless. A yoke is supposed to be a double yoke - you on one side and the human person on the other. Would you please pull harder on your side?

The Lab

I had to go to the lab again today. A check to see if my liver enzymes are coming down further - as they should. How to you get elevated liver enzymes? By drinking, drugging or kissing a wet dog in Slovenia who was not pasteurized. That was me, the third option. But what could I do? The poor thing was tied up in front of a bank and I started to get homesick. Of course you would kiss a dog right on the snout under those circumstances. Would you ever ask him first if he was pasteurized? I have no symptoms and I feel fine but should I die of liver failure in the future please put the proper cause of death in the obit: "Received the kiss of death from a Slovenian dog." Looks mighty impressive, doesn't it? And NO singing the Ode to Joy or I will definitely take up my mat and start walking in protest.

Levitation

I almost levitated this morning. Suppressed it.  St. Peter Julian Eymard was looking down on me this morning. One of my favorite saints who promoted Eucharistic Adoration and moved the Rabbi's hand. It could not have been better.

Focus

I have no sense of direction. It takes me 7x70 times to remember a certain location. Once I do remember, I start daydreaming. So this morning I ended up on the Pacific coast ready to take the ferry to Honolulu. I made a quick U-ey and walked into Rabbi Seligman's admonition about focus. It was eerily timely.

When is the World coming to an End?

Harold Camping thought he had this gnostic knowledge and it would be May 21st. Now it is supposed to be October ??? of this year. Then the Mayan calendar is terminating and and and. There will always be people who think the end is near. If you don't even know when YOU will die how much less will you know when the world is coming to an end? Only the Father knows. No, not your biological father. The Father in heaven. You don't know him? I guess that is why you don't know that you don't know when the world is coming to an end. Check him out!

O Blessed Mother

O Blessed Mother
Without fear
We come and beg
That you will hear
All our prayers that we say
The hyms and psalms
We sing and pray.
Accompany the souls today
That leave this world and that you may
Plead for their mercy one more time
Before the Father makes them thine
For all eternity to shine
As stars for everyone to see
To guide us and to honor thee.

November 21, 2003
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Mother

The Tea Party

There was a party that was naughty
and wasn't a party at all
they went out to party and then to pee
and pretended it was tea

Abortion, the hungry, and the rest of the World

There is is nut in Gaithersburg, MD, who not only performs abortions but late term abortions. Recently someone objected in a newspaper to calling an unborn child a "baby." It should be called a "fetus." You wonder why. Calling an unborn child a fetus makes it so un-personable. Right now there are demonstrations for and against abortions in front of his clinic. Yes, prayers are laudable but do we do enough to support pregnancy clinics? When I look at the Northern European Countries and see what they do for mothers and children it makes the USA look like child abusers in comparison - mother abusers and child abusers. Heaven help us all when the welfare cuts will start. Perhaps we can go to the Chinese and ask for some aid money to feed the hungry in this country.

The Mass

Yes, our Rabbi can celebrate a lovely Catholic Mass. He got special privileges. Don't ask. He got it from the Chief Rabbi in Rome. Today I received this lovely piece of the Broken Jesus. Theologically, it is all the same - the broken pieces as well as the round pieces of His body but on a sentimental basis it is quite different. So sentimentally, I walked out of Mass on cloud nine......

The Office Look

Yes, the Rabbi's office looks rather monkish right now. He always loved that look but this is "extreme monkish makeover." Was able to walk in today to the surprise of the secretary and the office manager. Apparently the door was supposed to be locked but it was not. Some doors I have only seen locked. "Head of Muslims," Head of Chucky's Empire," "Head of the Fountain of Youth." I guess I will see these heads next month.

Dear Sherman

You have become a martyr for all dogs and I welcome you in Dog Heaven. Nobody should be exterminated just because they pee in the dining room. You just peed for your race. I will get even with your owner. What is he anyway? A dog Nazi?

God

The Seniors

Sat next to some chatty seniors today. Right during the consecration. I almost want to do one of those elderly Italian lady things: "pssshhht."
On Wednesday the Rabbi will introduce me to a larger group  and I might do a mouse knitting event with them. I love knitting mice with the seniors. So hopefully they will all come aboard. The object is to replicate all of the plagues and talk about Moses. You go backwards in the Torah - no kidding - and when you are 101 you have arrived at Adam and Eve. Lovely fireside chats.